4/17/11
Middle Deschutes:
They have opened the canals for the season! The river below Bend is now at an ideal flow for fly fishing. This is great time of year to fish the middle Deschutes. Look for BWO's and March Brown hatches midday. Many Stonefly nymphs are present, and the trout are noticing. We have been having some good times fishing locally for Browns and Rainbows to 17 inches!
Lower Deschutes: 5970 CFS
The river bordering the Warm Springs Reservation opens to fishing next Saturday, April 23rd!
The section of river below the reservation is open year around.
The lower is still a bit on the high side, but good fishing can still be found. Hatches of BWO's and March Browns are starting to get the fish's attention, look for midday hatches for dry action, especially in the back eddies and flats. High water has fish pushed to the banks as well. Try nymphing early and late in the day with stoneflies and haresears and PT nymphs. Soft hackles can be productive as well.
We are still booking Deschutes River, day and multi day Salmonfly and Caddis trout trips. If you haven't gotten around to it, book your Salmonfly hatch now to reserve your spot during the best trout fishing of the year! Call 541-647-2584 to book a trip or for more info
Crooked River: 986 CFS
The Crooked is still running too high for good fishing. The river has been high and un-fishable for most of the winter. Look for fishing to be excellent once flows come below 300-400 cfs. The Mothers Day Caddis hatch is very prolific on this river and I anticipate some great fishing once the river reaches its summer time flows
Sunday, April 17, 2011
Monday, January 31, 2011
Crooked River and Winter Steelhead Fishing Reports
1/31/11
Its been a while since our last report...
The Crooked River:
They have been letting water out of the reservoir for the last two weeks blowing the Crooked out.
The water is on the drop now though, look for it to fish well once it drops below 200 cfs. Nymphing small eggs patterns, orange scuds, midge and micro may fly patterns works best.
We offer guided trips on the Crooked this time year so if your looking to be shown the ends and outs of this great winter trout fishery give us a call!
Winter Steelhead:
The Oregon winter steelhead season is in full swing. And the crowds show that people know it! The fishing has been slow-good depending on when and where you are fishing. My favorite time to fish for winter fish though is later in the run, late Feb, March and April. The crowds seem to thin out some as anglers turn their attention towards spring salmon, and the weather gets more consistent. Also the bulk of the wild fish return at this time and they make for better fly quarry, as they tend to be more aggressive towards a swung fly.
Its been a while since our last report...
The Crooked River:
They have been letting water out of the reservoir for the last two weeks blowing the Crooked out.
The water is on the drop now though, look for it to fish well once it drops below 200 cfs. Nymphing small eggs patterns, orange scuds, midge and micro may fly patterns works best.
We offer guided trips on the Crooked this time year so if your looking to be shown the ends and outs of this great winter trout fishery give us a call!
Winter Steelhead:
The Oregon winter steelhead season is in full swing. And the crowds show that people know it! The fishing has been slow-good depending on when and where you are fishing. My favorite time to fish for winter fish though is later in the run, late Feb, March and April. The crowds seem to thin out some as anglers turn their attention towards spring salmon, and the weather gets more consistent. Also the bulk of the wild fish return at this time and they make for better fly quarry, as they tend to be more aggressive towards a swung fly.
Tuesday, November 2, 2010
G4 Boots with Stream Tread Soles? Plus a short report ;-)
I have been fishing the g4's with Stream Tread soles since mid July. I have tried every form of bolt on cleats and all were inadequate. There is definitely a difference between a review from someones guiding experience versus actually fishing in something, this is an actual fishing review. Last week I was in Jack Hagan's shop (Northwest Flyfishing Outfitters) complaining and volunteering them to his rental fleet. Jack swore up and down that if I put the AlumiBite Star Cleats in I wouldn't miss felt ever again.
So my field test included the lower 15 miles of the Deschutes Monday with flows just under 6000 CFS and near zero visibility. I waded the toughest stuff the river has to offer and finished on the east side of wagon blast. For those of you that fish the lower lower you know this is the worst wade on the river and maybe anywhere. I have to say I was impressed. I tried to fish this exact water the week before with a combination of hard bite stars and cleats. It was a disaster and I honestly pulled out and did not fish while my partners in crime put on a clinic.
So my vote is YEA, with the AlumiBites I might even say they are better than felt with studs if set up with two pucks of cleats. NAY with every other form of cleats (I have tried them all).
On a plus side, the rubber shouldn't delam like the felt is famous for. The aluminum is soft so I imagine at some point the cleats will need to be replaced. All in all I highly recommend the G4's with the cleats...for whatever that's worth.
So my field test included the lower 15 miles of the Deschutes Monday with flows just under 6000 CFS and near zero visibility. I waded the toughest stuff the river has to offer and finished on the east side of wagon blast. For those of you that fish the lower lower you know this is the worst wade on the river and maybe anywhere. I have to say I was impressed. I tried to fish this exact water the week before with a combination of hard bite stars and cleats. It was a disaster and I honestly pulled out and did not fish while my partners in crime put on a clinic.
So my vote is YEA, with the AlumiBites I might even say they are better than felt with studs if set up with two pucks of cleats. NAY with every other form of cleats (I have tried them all).
On a plus side, the rubber shouldn't delam like the felt is famous for. The aluminum is soft so I imagine at some point the cleats will need to be replaced. All in all I highly recommend the G4's with the cleats...for whatever that's worth.
Oh...the fishing was radical. I spent the day with Matt McCrary, also from Northwest Flyfishing Outfitters. All told we hoooked 10 landed 5. 3 of the five were big boy bad ass fish. Here is a picture of Matt with the biggest fish my guess is 35 or 36 inched. The bottom fish was the brightest fish and an absolute hotrod. Love the lower lower in late season.
Thursday, October 28, 2010
Deschutes Steelhead Report
The phone hasn't rung in a while so I decided to hit the lower lower with a couple buds of mine who are some serious Steelheaders. Friday there were two of us and five of them from 1:PM to 5:PM. Saturday there were three of us and six of them. Sunday was an O 4 2 kinda morning with a massive storm from that left us having a bar B Q under the trees. By the time we left on Sunday we were the only humans on the entire river. So basically Friday was on fire, Saturday a front moved in and slowed things down, Sunday we got blown off the river. 13 fish in two and a half days isn't too shabby
I'm just going to post the three big 'uns. Some serious slabs all caught inside the 4 mile mark. Two out of three came on dry lines. I love late October;-)
Expect the river to fish well under 6000 cfs. If the levels stays right expect bruisers like this for the next month. See you out there.
SS
Friday, October 15, 2010
Deschutes River Steelhead Report
This season has been a challenging one to say the least. Warm water temps effected fishing early, fluctuating water levels have been an issue of late. The White River has been doing it's thing on the lower river. The numbers of fish seem about average, but the river has been busy. More anglers and less fish than last year, coupled with the adverse conditions mentioned above and you get the picture.
With that being said we have had some good days, and the river is starting to thin out with the start of hunting season. The irrigation canals are turned off on the 15th and the river will be higher, but more stable from here on out. Look for the upper river (Warm Springs-Maupin) to fish well into November. The lower river clears out this time of year and this when we can expect a push of B-Run fish (12-15lb. steelhead bound for Idaho!) to turn into the river. If you are after the steelhead of a lifetime this is the time to be on the lower river! From Warm Springs to Trout Creek the reservation side is open until the end of the month. We traditionally experience some of our best fishing of the season on this stretch during the last two weeks of the month.
With that being said we have had some good days, and the river is starting to thin out with the start of hunting season. The irrigation canals are turned off on the 15th and the river will be higher, but more stable from here on out. Look for the upper river (Warm Springs-Maupin) to fish well into November. The lower river clears out this time of year and this when we can expect a push of B-Run fish (12-15lb. steelhead bound for Idaho!) to turn into the river. If you are after the steelhead of a lifetime this is the time to be on the lower river! From Warm Springs to Trout Creek the reservation side is open until the end of the month. We traditionally experience some of our best fishing of the season on this stretch during the last two weeks of the month.
The season is drawing to a close but we still have some availability for lower river jet boat trips and upper river drift boat floats. If you haven't gotten your fill yet give us a call. I predict some of the best fishing of the season is going to be had in the next couple of weeks!
Saturday, September 11, 2010
Deschutes Steelhead Report
Long time no see...no excuses!
Steelheading on the Deschutes in 2010 is a completely different animal than it was in 2009. What we lack in numbers this year is more than made up for with 30" inch natives with shoulders that don't quit. Over the last ten days I have spent on the river I have seen more 10 pounders than I saw all last year. We released a half dozen legitimate 12 pounders and two fish in the fifteen pound range. Sure, we are not having 40 fish days but we are seeing steady fishing with multiple opportunity to swing fish daily. Water temps have remained in the mid sixties despite the cool weather fronts that have moved in and out of the CRG (Columbia River Gorge). It's almost like summer came and went without notice. Fall tactics should be in full effect. Dry lines, drab patterns, skaters...oh yeah, and if that doesn't work go big and ugly, and don't delay. Dry line fishing has been tough this year. Grabs are soft and lack luster. As the temps drop back into the mid fifties in the next 30 days expect the return of the freight train takes.
Labor day has passed which means fishing pressure will even out from Warm Springs to the mouth. We are currently booked in September for sled trips and have some availability for drift boat trips. October is going to be return of the "Killer B's", if you are interested in fishing with us this fall don't wait, we will be booked out by mid September.
Hope everyone has had a great couple of months, the best is yet to come.
Tight lines,
RBO
Wednesday, August 4, 2010
Deschutes Steelhead Report 8-4-2010
Fishing is good early and late. Water temps are unreasonably high due to PGE's Round Butte experiment. Fish are spread from Buckhollow to Heritage, by my count 82% natives. The 82% comes from the last seven days I have been on the river. The fish pictured above is cookie cutter of the natives we have been landing 28-31" and full of piss and vinegar. Please make sure you pressure these fish and release them as soon as possible. Carry a net as this quickens the landing process significantly. If the bite is not on get down and dirty immediately, do not dilly dally trying to move fish to a dry line fly. With temps in the mid to high 60's these fish need a presentation in their wheelhouse. Good luck and we will see you down there.
Regards,
RBO
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